The Chronic Disease Research Foundation

Charity Number: 1186102

Annual Expenditure: £0.9M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £946,991 (expenditure 2024/25)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not specified
  • Grant Range: £10,000 - £350,000
  • Geographic Focus: UK-based researchers, primarily at King's College London and St Thomas' Hospital

Contact Details

Website: www.cdrf.org.uk

Email: info@cdrf.org.uk

Phone: 07795177093

Address: c/o Collyer Bristow, St. Martins Court, 10 Paternoster Row, London, EC4M 7EJ

For Grant Applications: Contact Robyn Fitzgerald at info@cdrf.org.uk

Overview

The Chronic Disease Research Foundation (CDRF) was founded in May 1996 and formally registered as a charity in November 2019 (charity number 1186102). For over 25 years, the CDRF has been a leading force in funding medical research into chronic diseases, including obesity and its link to the gut microbiome. The foundation's mission is the promotion of research into the causes of and cure for chronic diseases, particularly those with a strong genetic influence. The CDRF has played a pivotal role in fostering innovation and agility in responding to emerging research needs, notably providing rapid funding in 2020 that enabled the COVID Symptom Study research team to mobilize quickly. Under the guidance of Professor Tim Spector (Medical Director), the CDRF funds key work based at King's College London and surrounding hospitals, particularly at the Department of Twin Research at St Thomas' Hospital. The foundation is accredited and audited by the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Research Fellowship: Up to £350,000 for new areas and methods related to analysis of the microbiome, metabolomics and chronic disease. Candidates must have a PhD, excellent track record in the research area, and skills in handling large data sets.
  • Pilot Studies: Up to £10,000 for preliminary research that can be used to seek larger grants. Can be submitted at any time on a rolling basis.
  • Project Grants: Typically less than 4 years duration
  • Postgraduate Studentships: Support for doctoral research
  • Clinical Trials: Funding for clinical research studies
  • Equipment Grants: Support for research equipment
  • Michael Mosley Memorial Fellowship: Three-year clinical research fellowship (target £350,000) at King's College London to support research into metabolic health issues

Priority Areas

The CDRF funds gene research programs targeting:

  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Obesity and metabolic health
  • Long-term COVID
  • Arthritis
  • Dementia
  • Back pain
  • Migraine
  • Asthma
  • Heart disease
  • Gut microbiome research
  • Ageing research

Research Stage: Discovery/basic research

Primary Research Areas: Ageing, Cancer, Inflammatory and immune system, Metabolic and endocrine, Oral and gastrointestinal, Renal and urogenital, Generic health relevance

What They Don't Fund

Information not publicly available. Contact the foundation for exclusions.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (6 total)

  • Mark Daniel Benjamin Simon (Chair)
  • Dr Andrew John Walley
  • Jonathan Ross
  • Dr Elena Georgieva Bochukova
  • Nicholas Pike
  • Michael Benaim

Key Personnel

Professor Tim Spector - Medical Director of CDRF and Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King's College London. Founded TwinsUK in 1992, now one of the richest collections of clinical data in the world.

Quote from Professor Spector: “Michael [Mosley] was a dear friend and we shared a passion for sharing knowledge to help people lead healthier, happier lives for longer.”

Governance Notes

  • No trustees receive remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity
  • Recognized by HMRC for gift aid
  • Maintains policies on financial controls, risk management, and safeguarding
  • Fundraising costs are 0.1% of relevant income and 0.4% of total spending, indicating very efficient operations

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  • Pilot Studies (up to £10,000): Can be submitted at any time on a rolling basis
  • Other Grant Types: Contact Robyn Fitzgerald at info@cdrf.org.uk for application conditions and requirements
  • Application Method: Rolling basis for pilot studies; other programs' schedules not specified

Additional conditions and full application guidelines can be found on the website at www.cdrf.org.uk/grant-applications

Decision Timeline

Not publicly specified. Contact the foundation for typical decision timeframes.

Success Rates

Not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly specified.

Application Success Factors

Research Focus Alignment

The CDRF has a strong focus on twin research and large-scale cohort studies. Research projects conducted at or in partnership with the Department of Twin Research at St Thomas' Hospital appear to be a priority, particularly those utilizing the TwinsUK cohort of over 16,000 identical and non-identical twins.

Key Areas of Interest

  • Microbiome and Metabolomics: The foundation has funded substantial microbiome research, including infrastructure enhancements at the Department of Twin Research
  • Rapid Response Research: The COVID Symptom Study funding demonstrates CDRF's willingness to support urgent, timely research
  • Longitudinal Studies: The “TwinsUK Imaging: A Resource for Ageing and Research” five-year award shows support for long-term studies
  • Metabolic Health: Recent focus with the Michael Mosley Memorial Fellowship
  • Translation Potential: Research that can "move out of the lab and to a patient's bedside, an adult's smart phone, or even a child's classroom quicker"

Requirements for Fellowship Applications

  • PhD qualification required
  • Excellent track record in the research area
  • Skills in handling large data sets
  • Research must relate to microbiome, metabolomics and chronic disease

Strategic Partnerships

The CDRF works closely with King's College London and has partnered with families (such as the Mosley family) to establish memorial funds, indicating openness to collaborative funding arrangements.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Start with pilot funding: The £10,000 pilot study grants on a rolling basis provide an accessible entry point and can lead to larger grants
  • Emphasize data analysis skills: For fellowship applications, demonstrating expertise in handling large data sets is essential
  • Focus on genetic and twin research: The foundation's strong connection to TwinsUK and genetic epidemiology suggests applications with this focus may be particularly well-received
  • Highlight translational potential: CDRF values research that can quickly translate to real-world health improvements
  • Consider metabolic health: The new Michael Mosley Memorial Fellowship signals strong current interest in metabolic health research
  • Efficient operations matter: With fundraising costs under 0.5%, the foundation clearly prioritizes directing maximum funds to research
  • Make direct contact: With application details not fully available online, reaching out to Robyn Fitzgerald for guidance is recommended before applying

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